The situation is not good and getting more dire by the month. That's the alert that the St.
The situation is not good and getting more dire by the month. That's the alert that the St. Albert Food Bank has just released as new figures show that client demand for its services has spiked while donations to the agency have remained stable to comparable periods.
It's been two months since Krecsy sounded the sirens that monthly usage had risen more than 10 per cent above the same figures from the previous year. Now, it's veering closer to 40 per cent.
“It looks like we're going to see an increase in the number of clients for July as well. Last year, I believe it was 114 families. We're past that now, and I've still got three days to be open.”
By the end of day yesterday, there were already 130 families that had received hampers over the course of this month. She conservatively estimated seeing 10 more families for each of Monday, Wednesday and Friday (the days that the food bank is regularly open) next week before the end of July.
“We've been seeing 15, 12, 19, 16 families in one day. I hope it doesn't go up that high because the new Child Tax Credit came in. I'm not sure if that will decrease the numbers coming in next week, but if we're at 130 now and we get 30 more, it's going to be over 160 again,” she said, referring to June's figures of 165 families seeking help.
If her modest estimate actually comes true then that would mark a 40 per cent increase in usage between July last year and this year although a 50 per cent increase or higher is easily foreseeable as well.
The downturn in the economy is the culprit for the heavy toll that so many are having to deal with.
“We're having people that I haven't seen for six months calling in,” she said, noting that people have been losing their jobs or are only working part time. Some people have had their hours reduced or they've just picked up a new job but haven't been paid yet.
There has been a corresponding uptick in clients dealing with stress-related issues that have come to community liaison worker Fay Lucy's door at the Community Village side of the food bank. Last month, one in three of the food bank's clients reported having mental health issues.
“It's that stress-related stuff that's a worry to me as well. Getting the food … that'll lessen the stress a little bit, but it's the unknown: ‘Am I going to have a job next month? Do I have the security?' Folks are really struggling with that.”
Compounding all of these problems is the lower level of food donations that is typical of this time of year. “Usually at the summer, it's our lowest time,” she said.
That deficit has been staved somewhat with the assistance of a load of food from food distributor Sysco and a fundraiser at Save-On Foods last weekend that helped to bring in some much needed cash donations. Dynamyx Gymnastics Club in Campbell Park has also requested a bin for food donations.
Krecsy said that the city always responds when help is needed.
“Every time, without fail, the public responds to these distress calls. People in St. Albert do respond. They've been really good. On Wednesday there was a steady stream of people coming in. We've got to get through August and then we hit the food drive.”
The annual food drive is scheduled for Sept. 19. She said that things should be OK “if we can make this the biggest and best.”
Apart from its food hampers and services through the Community Village, another way that the food bank is set to help the community is by offering its Gearin' Up for Grades/Tools for School event on Aug. 22. Participants will receive a new backpack filled with school supplies, a free haircut courtesy of MC College, some gently used clothing and lunch.
